#J10: Massive nationwide strike strangles UK public services

People hold banners and placards as they take part in a march and rally in central London on July 10, 2014, as more than one million public sector workers went on strike in Britain over pay and spending cuts by the government imposed as part of its austerity programme, trade unions said (AFP Photo / Carl Court)

Picket lines were manned by trade unionist and supporters
nationwide outside courts, council offices, job centers and fire
stations, as well as outside the Houses of Parliament.

Thousands of people took part in marches and rallies in London
and other UK cities. Meanwhile, hundreds of schools in England
and Wales were forced to close or partially shut, as did many
museums and libraries.

The action is the latest in opposition to a four-year public
sector pay freeze, an austerity measure enforced at a time when
the cost of living has risen substantially. The TUC estimates
that public sector workers have been £2,500 worse off a year
since 2010.

The government condemned the ‘disruptive’ strikes, with the
Department for Education arguing there was no justification for
the action while talks with ministers were still ongoing.

Grant Shapps, the Conservative Party Chairman, said: “Today's
strikes are disrupting the lives of millions. Schools have been
shut, damaging children's education and forcing parents to take
time off work or scramble round for childcare. Libraries and
other public services have closed, causing difficulties to
families across the country.”

Commenting on the day of action across England and Wales,
Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of
Teachers, attacked the government’s response to the strike.

“Extraordinarily the government’s response to today’s action has
been to completely ignore the issues and instead seek to reduce
people’s right to strike,” she said.

“There is no point pontificating on the fact that citizens have
the right to strike if every time they do so they are vilified.
It is a clear indication that this government does not want to
listen to our concerns, nor do they want them drawn to the
general public’s attention.”

Blower went on to blame the government’s failure to “engage in
any meaningful discussions” about the escalating dispute.

“It is high time that we saw some significant movement,” Blower
said. “Teachers love their jobs but unless their concerns on pay,
pensions and workload are addressed teacher recruitment will
certainly become an issue.”

Labour, the UK’s main opposition party, which draws the majority
of its funding from the trade union movement, refused to condone
or condemn the strikes, with leader Ed Miliband calling the
strikes “a sign of failure on both sides.”

His remarks alienated many of the party’s natural support base,
while allowing the Conservative government to accuse Labour of
weakness.

“I understand the anger of workers who feel they are being
singled out by a reckless and provocative government,” Miliband
told journalists. “But I believe this action is wrong.
Negotiations are ongoing.”

“The government’s handling of the issue has been high-handed and
arrogant.”

“My message to both sides is this – what the British people want
and expect is that you now get back to the negotiating table and
redouble your efforts to find an agreed solution. Put aside the
rhetoric and avoid any further disruption to parents and the
public.”

A survey of over 1,000 adults conducted on the eve of the strike
for the Unite union found 70 percent of the public backed the
right to strike. It also found 59 percent thought the government
is unfairly targeting public sector workers on pay.

Even among 2010 Conservative voters, support for a pay rise stood
at 52 percent, while more than two-thirds overall disagreed the
government’s below inflation pay cap should remain in place until
2018.